HCMC – Vietnam’s former leaders, including former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, were today, January 20, awarded the country’s highest honor – the Gold Star Order.
The awards were presented in recognition of their “immense and exceptionally outstanding contributions to the Party’s and nation’s revolutionary cause,” reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Former State President Tran Dai Quang was posthumously awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order, Vietnam’s second highest honor.
Other recipients of the Ho Chi Minh Order included former National Assembly chairpersons Nguyen Sinh Hung and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and former permanent members of the Party Central Committee Secretariat Le Hong Anh and Tran Quoc Vuong.
The Ho Chi Minh Order was also conferred upon Tong Thi Phong, former Politburo member and former deputy chairwoman of the National Assembly; Nguyen Thien Nhan, former Politburo member and former secretary of the HCMC Party Committee; and General Ngo Xuan Lich, former Politburo member and former minister of National Defense.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Party General Secretary To Lam acknowledged the achievements made during the past 40 years of reform, known as Doi Moi. Still, he stressed the need to address remaining challenges and limitations to ensure continued progress.
He called for a renewed focus on enhancing leadership, governance, and economic management. Safeguarding national sovereignty, maintaining social stability, and fostering international cooperation were identified as top priorities.
Recognizing the critical period from now until 2030, the Party chief said Vietnam has a strategic opportunity to achieve its 100-year goals under the Party’s leadership.
He warned that failing to seize this opportunity would be a disservice to the nation and the people, declaring it a mandate of this era.
